Breech mechanism of guns.



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BREBGH MEGHANISM OF GUNS.

APPLIUATION FILED 11011.27. 1911.

1,076,842. 1 Patented 001.2211913.

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IINITF@ STATE@ FATFLIW FFIE EUGNE SCHNEIDER, or LE cREUzoT, FRANCE.

BREECH MECHANISM OF GUNS.

Application le. November 27, 1911.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EUGNE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, and a resident of Le Creuzot, Sane-et-Loire, France, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in or Relating to the BreechMechanism of Guns, which is fully set fort-h in the folle-wingspecification.

rIliis invention relates to the breech mechanism of guns and has for itschief object to reduce to a minimum the friction of the reech screw inthe threads of the breech chamber during the greater part of thescrewing and unscrewing of the breech, thereby eliminating wear andpermitting the breech to be readily opened even in the case of bindingbetween the threads of the breech screw and of the breech chamber, thearrangement being such as to insure intimate Contact between the breechscrew and the threads of the breech chamber when the breech is closed.

According to this invention the threads of the breech screw instead ofbeing so formed as to fit those of the breech chamber exactly, formed insuch a manner that when the breech is closed they bear with their rearfaces against the front faces of the threads of the breech chamber,suitable play being reserved between the other face of the. screwthreads and the corresponding faces of the threads of the breechchamber. The breech screw instead of being engaged directly with itssupport, that is to say with the carrier, engages with a nut or with anexternally screw threaded collar (the pitch of which is shorter thanthat of the breech screw) capable of moving longitudinally with respectto the carrier, the said nut or collar being retained against a part ofthe carrier by a spring which is given a suitable initial tension.

It follows that the breech screw, which a short time after the beginningof the unlocking operation, when the longitudinal movement of the nut orcollar has ceased, takes a slower movement in the breeci chamber owingto the shorter pitch of said nut or collar and has thus acquiredcomplete freedom in the latter, is able, during the whole of the rest ofthe unlocking movement to recede on or in the supporting nut or collarwhile at the same time rotating freely (without any friction) in thebreech chamber.

Inversely for closing, the breech screw Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23,1913.

serial No. 662,657.

first of all occupies in the breech chamber the free position that ithas at the end of the unlocking movement and the locking movement thenproduces an advance of the breech screw upon or in the supporting nut orcollar; this movement being somewhat smaller delays the displacement inthe screw chamber. A. short time before the end of the locking movement,the rear faces of the threads of the breech screw bear upon the frontfaces of the threads of the breech chamber which displace the screwcarrying with it the supporting nut and compressing the counter spring.The friction of the breech screw in the breech chamber does not occurexcept during a very small part of the travel.

In order that the said invention may be more clearly understood andreadily carried into effect I will describe the same more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures l' and 2illustrate one constructional form of the invention in longitudinalsection, Fig. l showing the position of the parts when the breech iscompletely closed and Fig. 2 the parts when the breech screw is unlockedbefore the complete opening by the angular displacement of the carrierabout its hinge pin. Figs. 3, l and 5 show in partial longitudinalsection the respective positions of the threads of the screw and of thethreads of the breech chamber in the various phases of the movement ofunlocking and of locking the breech screw. Figs. 6 and 7 show inlongitudinal section a second constructional form of the invention thebreech screw being in the locked and unlocked position respectively.Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a third construction in the same two positionsand in longitudinal section.

In these various figures a designates a breech screw of any known typeand Z) the breech of the gun.

The threads of the breech screw a are eut in such a manner that when thebreech is completely closed (Figs. l, 3, 6 and 8) their rear face abears against the front face b of the threads of the breech chamber, asuitable amount of play being reserved between tlie front faces a2 ofthe threads of the breech screw and the rear faces b2 of the threads ofthe nut; this is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The breech sew a instead ofbeing engaged directly in screw threads in the carrier c is engaged bymeans of a key or fea-ther f engaging in a keywayinthe carrier toprevent the said nut or collar from rotating 1n the latter. A powerfulspring g bearing upon the carrier 'and upon the nut or collar Zconstantly tends,

to prevent any longitudinal displacement of the nut or collar in theforward'direction; when the nut or collar d has-encountered the carriere it can no longer move forward as, it is locked bythe said spring. Theinitial tension of the spring is such'that'any accidental movement ofthe breech screw c in the lcarrier c isiprevented whatever the angle ofelevation of the gun maybe.

In the examples'illustrated in Figs. 1, :2 and 6, 7 the pitch of thescrew threads'c is smaller than thatl 'of the threads of the breechscrew a and of the breech chamber. In the irst example of the invention(Figs. l and 2) the screw threads c are formed on the stem a? Aof thebreech screw. In this example the supporting nut Z is arranged in arecess in the'boss of the carrier c and 'guided on a key fJ keyed inthis boss. The spring g bears against the front face of thesupporting'nut l and upon a plug /L screwed'in'to the boss of thecarrier. y

When the breech is completely closed the parts occupy the position shownin Figs. l and 3. The faces a ofthe threads of the breech screw bearagainst the faces b of the threads ofthe breech chamber Vthe clearance mbeing left between the faces a2 andbg1 A clearance y exists between therear face of the supporting nut CZ and the bottom of the recess in thecarrier e.

TWhen the breech screw a is first of all actuated with the object ofopening the breech,

'it is driven during about l/lth of the un- 'screwing' operation, by thebreech chamber; at the same time, however, 'the threads c owing to theirshorter pitch rotate in the supporting nut (Z in such a manner thatthelatter is displaced vlongitudinally in its recess (owing` to 'thedifference in pitch of the threads of the breech screw and the'nut)until it has receded by the amount y. From this moment as the supportingnut'cl is unable to recede farther, it begins by means of the threads cto displace the breech screw a, and as the pitch of the threads c-issmaller than thaty of the threads a" a2 the latter leave their supportupon thenut b, assume the position shown in Fig. 4 and then rotatefreely. l/lths of the unscrewing thus take place during the displacementVof the threads c in vthe supportingv nut CZ, the threads of thel breechscrew rotating freely and not yexperiencingv any wear. Fig. 2

shows 'the position of the variousparts at Vbreech screw.

sit-ion of the threads of the screw and those.

a and Z9 come int-o contact (Fig.

roc/6,842

the Vendvrof the unlocking movement of the Fig. 5 shows the relativepoo'f the 'breech chamber' at this moment.

`It will be observed that during the greater -part (l5/16ths of therotation for example) of the unscrewing movement the :friction islimited'to that of the threads c in the supporting nut, which amount offriction 1s negligible 1n comparison with that which lwould otherwisebeproduced between of the threads c'i-n the supporting nut CZ. Y

When l/ltlths ofthe rotary'locking movementhave been effected thethreads of the screw a owing to the fact that their pitch is greaterrthan the pitch of the threads c, have experienced a retardation in theforward movement in such a manner that the faces this moment the screwbreech a is displaced more rapidly in the breech chamber and thesupporting nut CZv is displaced longitudinally in compressing the springg and finally regaining the'play y inits recess when the Alockingmovement is completed.

4As vin the unlocking operation, friction between the threads of thebreech screw and chamber exists only during l/lGth part ofy the lockingoperation. 1

lf binding should accidentally occur after firing the prompt opening ofthe breech can yalways be insured, as it is only necessary in suchVcases to exert a fo fard thrust directly upon the breech screw a (bysuitable means suchfor example as ay jack) in such a'manner as to detachthe faces c from the faces (this'being possibleowing 'to the clearancea2) and to rotate the screw rather more than l/lGth of a revolution.

From this moment the threads a a2, having lost all contact with thethreads of the breech chamber, occupy the position shown in Fig. and theopening can be completed normally.

:In'theexample'illustrated in Figs. G and 7 the screw threads c'ofreduced pitch are formed in a' recess inthe breech screw a; thesupporting collar CZ is guided upon the boss e( of-*tfhe carrier e andis prevented from rotating-by a keyy f in this bess. The spring gbearsupon Ythe col-lar Z and upon a plug.l screwed'on the said boss Ve.

The .operation is exactly the same asin the preceding example.

From

In the example illustrated in Figs. 8 and' 9 the screw threads c engagewithout play in the supporting nut (Z, (which is guided in the carriere) and are provided on the outside of the screw a itself so as toconstitute a simple extension of the thread a c2. The supporting nut [Zcarries a collar CZ for the recept-ion of which a. corresponding recessis formed in the carrier c and which is able to bear against the bottome of this recess. The nut Z is formed in two parts (Z Z2 the part Z2being screwed upon the other and forming a support for the spring sothat the initial tension of the latter can be regulated.

The depth of the supporting nut Z is slightly less than that of thecarrier e s0 that when the latter in closing has taken a bearing uponthe rear face of the gun while the breech screw a has taken a bearingupon the carrier by means of its collar c", the said nut Z can moverearward.

Fig. 8 shows the parts vin the position Vthat they occupy when thebreech is conipletely closed. The clearance exists between the frontfaces c2 of the threads of the breech screw c and the rear faces b2 ofthe threads of the breech chamber. Clearance also exists between thefront of the nut Z and the rear face of the gun in the same way thatclearance y exists between the collar CZ and its bearing face e.

At the commencement of the unlockingv operation the breech screw d losescontact with its chamber b and rotates freely in same permitting of thelongitudinal displacement of the supporting nut CZ which is preventedfrom rotating. As soon as the nut has traversed the clearance y underthe inuence of its spring g which clearance corresponds to say l/lGth ofthe unscrewing movement of the breech screw it bears by means of itscollar CZ upon the face e" of the carrier. The breech screw a continuingto rotate in the nut CZ which then is steady and the threads a c2 beingstill out of contact with the threads of the breech chamber, theunscrewing is entirely effected with the parts in contact only with thenutrZ, the rotation taking place freely in the breech chamber.

At the end of the unlocking operation the parts assume the positionshown in Fig. 9. rIhe reverse action takes place when the breech isbeing closed. The parts start with the position shown in Fig. 9 andduring the entire locking operation the rotation of the breech screw isfree in the breech chamber.

lWhen in its entering movement the breechV of the threads in the breechchamber and the play y is restablished between the collar Z and itsbearing face e. To readily open the breech in case of binding, thecollar a4 which would be screwed on the breech screw, would be unscrewedin order to exert pressure on the breech screw.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis l. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threadsand a breech screw provided with corresponding screwthreads, a clearancebeing provided between half of the contiguous and homologous faces ofsaid threads whereby said breech screw may have a slight longitudinalmovement imparted thereto when the breech is completely closed.

2. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threads,and a breech screw provided with corresponding screwthreads, a clearancebeing provided between the front faces of the threads on one of saidparts and the rear faces of the threads on the other of said parts whenthe breech is completely closed.

3. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-tl'ireads,and a breech screw provided with corresponding screwthreads, a clearancebeing provided between the front faces of the threads on the breechscrew and the rear faces of the threads in the breech when the breech iscompletely closed. Y

4. yIn a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threadsand a breechscrew provided with corresponding screwthreads, a clearancebeing provided between half of the contiguous and homologous faces ofsaid threads when said breech-screw is screwed home in the breech.

5. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threads anda breechscrew provided with corresponding screwthreads concentric withthe axis of said breech-screw, a clearance being provided between halfof the contiguousand homologous faces of said threads when saidbreechscrew is screwed home in the breech.

6. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threads,and a breechscrew provided with corresponding screwthreads concentricwith the axis of said breech-screw, a clearance being provided betweenthe front faces of the threads on one of said parts and the rear facesof the threads on the other of said parts when the breech is closed.

- 7. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threads,and a breechscrew provided with corresponding screwthreads concentricwith the axis of said breech-screw, a clearance being provided betweenthe front faces of the threads on the breech-screw and the rear faces ofthe threads in the n breech when the vvbreech closed. Y

8. In a gun, thecoinbination ofua breech, e Y Carrier pivoted adjacentsaid breech, .a breech block engaging in the. ,breech and. providedwithsorevvthreadeemeinbermovable relatively to said .carrier during theunlocking of said breech bloolnsaidiinemberi being provided` withscrew-threads engaging those on said ,breech block and being mQYalQlQ.relatively thereto.

9. In `a gun, the combination of breeoh, a carrier pivoted adjacent saidbreech, a breech block engaging in the breech and vprovided withscrew-threads, a membermovable relatively to said carrier during theunlocl;y ing of .said bre'eoh block, Sedineihber being provided withscrew-threads. engaging those `on said breeohblocl.

in the breech and provided with screw-- .threads engegiogthoeefoeeeid.llleinloerA f .12.. In e goethe combination of e breeeh, acarrier,aspringfpreseed member having .e

limited movement longtudineilyA of ,Seid Gal?- rier and providedWitheerevrthreede, Ineens for preventrtgv rotation oit-.Said member, abreech-block( .mounted `on .Seid gaging 1n .thebreeoh and vnrovided witheor-eW-threede .engaging-.those on Seid be1.,eed bleek, beine'rotetableon ,Seid .leember. Y

13. In a gun, the combination .of ehreeoh, a .carrier pivotedadjacent-said breech, a member mounted Onthecarrier and Ymovable longitudinallywith f respect ,theretm L breech block mounted on said ,carrierandVvengaging in the breech, -and connectims between `said member and breechblock whereby Lthelatter is rotatableoonthe, former.

14.- In a gun, the ,combinationof abreech 5. 5 providedwithscrewfthreadsz aearrielpivthreads., ,one .Set engaging those .iil thebreeoh and the other Set .those lon said memberl. gun, the'combinationof a breech Yprovid-ed with screwt hrea ls,A a carrier, a memberprovided with SoreW-threede of' e :Smaller pitoh than. those i thebreeeh mounted. onvsaidcarrier and vmovable longitudinally ywith respectthereto, e. breeoh ybleek 4mounted'Y.on Sedoerlier and Provdedwth twosets of screw-threads one setv engaging .16 In @guna the vcmblaton 0f ablfeech lprovided withA screw-threads, a carrier, a spring-pressedmember mounted on said carrier provided with screw threads and movablelongitudinally with respect to said carrier, and abreech block mountedon said carrier andprovided with two sets of screw- ,threacds one setengaging those in the breech and the other setthose on said member.

17. In a gun, the combination of a breech provided with screw-threads, acarrier, a spring-pressed member mounted on said carrier lprovided with`screw-.threads of a smaller pitch than those in the breech and vmovablelongitudinally with respect to said carrier, yand a breech block mountedon said carrier and provided with two sets of screwthreads one setengaging those iii the breech Iand the other set those on said member.

. `18,. Ina gurnthey combination of a breech `provided with'screw-threads, a carrier,` a

springpressed member mounted on said car- ;rier provided withscrew-threads of a `smaller;pitchthangthose in the breech and movablelongitudinally with respect to said carri-er, means for preventing saidmember Vfrom rotating von said carrier, and a breech "block mounted onsaid carrier and provided with twoy sets of screw-threads one setengaging those in the breech and the other set Ithose on said member.

Intestimony whereof I have y,signed this specification ,Kin the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER. Y Witnesses:

H. C, Coxn, R, DE SnvELlNGER Gopies of this patent may be obtained fervve sents addressing the Commissioner of Patenti,

venimos, n; c."

.'those inl thebreech and the, other set those `on Seid Amembervso

